Captain Nemo's Unusual Proposal

On the 28th of February, when at noon the Nautilus came to the surface of the sea, in 9° 4′ N. lat., there was land in sight about eight miles to westward. The first thing I noticed was a range of mountains about two thousand feet high, the shapes of which were most capricious. On taking the bearings, I knew that we were nearing the island of Ceylon, the pearl which hangs from the lobe of the Indian Peninsula.

On February 28, the Nautilus surfaced at noon at 9° 4′ N. latitude. Land was visible about eight miles to the west. The first thing I noticed was a range of mountains about two thousand feet high, with wildly irregular shapes. After checking our position, I knew we were approaching the island of Ceylon, the pearl hanging from the lobe of the Indian Peninsula.

Captain Nemo and his second appeared at this moment. The Captain glanced at the map. Then turning to me, said:

Captain Nemo and his second-in-command appeared at that moment. The captain glanced at the map. Then he turned to me and said:

“The Island of Ceylon, noted for its pearl-fisheries. Would you like to visit one of them, M. Aronnax?”

“The island of Ceylon is known for its pearl fisheries. Would you like to visit one, M. Aronnax?”

“Certainly, Captain.”

“Of course, Captain.”

“Well, the thing is easy. Though, if we see the fisheries, we shall not see the fishermen. The annual exportation has not yet begun. Never mind, I will give orders to make for the Gulf of Manaar, where we shall arrive in the night.”

“Well, that’s easy. Although we will see the fisheries, we won’t see the fishermen. The annual export season hasn’t started yet. Never mind. I’ll give orders to head for the Gulf of Manaar. We’ll arrive there during the night.”

The Captain said something to his second, who immediately went out. Soon the Nautilus returned to her native element, and the manometer showed that she was about thirty feet deep.

The Captain said something to his second-in-command, who left immediately. Soon the Nautilus returned to the water. The pressure gauge showed that she was about thirty feet deep.

“Well, sir,” said Captain Nemo, “you and your companions shall visit the Bank of Manaar, and if by chance some fisherman should be there, we shall see him at work.”

“Well, sir,” said Captain Nemo, “you and your companions will visit the Bank of Manaar. If a fisherman happens to be there, we will see him at work.”

“Agreed, Captain!”

“Agreed, Captain!”

“By the bye, M. Aronnax you are not afraid of sharks?”

“By the way, M. Aronnax, are you afraid of sharks?”

“Sharks!” exclaimed I.

“Sharks!” I exclaimed.

This question seemed a very hard one.

This question seemed very difficult.

“Well?” continued Captain Nemo.

“Well?” Captain Nemo continued.

“I admit, Captain, that I am not yet very familiar with that kind of fish.”

“I admit, Captain, that I don't know much about that kind of fish yet.”

“We are accustomed to them,” replied Captain Nemo, “and in time you will be too. However, we shall be armed, and on the road we may be able to hunt some of the tribe. It is interesting. So, till to-morrow, sir, and early.”

“We’re used to them,” replied Captain Nemo, “and in time you will be too. But we’ll be armed, and along the way we may be able to hunt some of the tribe. It’s interesting. So, until tomorrow, sir, and early.”

This said in a careless tone, Captain Nemo left the saloon. Now, if you were invited to hunt the bear in the mountains of Switzerland, what would you say?

After saying this in a casual tone, Captain Nemo left the lounge. Now, if you were invited to hunt bears in the mountains of Switzerland, what would you say?

“Very well! to-morrow we will go and hunt the bear.” If you were asked to hunt the lion in the plains of Atlas, or the tiger in the Indian jungles, what would you say?

“Very well! Tomorrow we will go bear hunting.” What would you say if someone asked you to hunt lions on the plains of Atlas or tigers in the Indian jungles?

“Ha! ha! it seems we are going to hunt the tiger or the lion!” But when you are invited to hunt the shark in its natural element, you would perhaps reflect before accepting the invitation. As for myself, I passed my hand over my forehead, on which stood large drops of cold perspiration. “Let us reflect,” said I, “and take our time. Hunting otters in submarine forests, as we did in the Island of Crespo, will pass; but going up and down at the bottom of the sea, where one is almost certain to meet sharks, is quite another thing! I know well that in certain countries, particularly in the Andaman Islands, the negroes never hesitate to attack them with a dagger in one hand and a running noose in the other; but I also know that few who affront those creatures ever return alive. However, I am not a negro, and if I were I think a little hesitation in this case would not be ill-timed.”

“Ha! ha! It seems we’re going to hunt a tiger or a lion!” But if you were invited to hunt a shark in its natural element, you might think twice before accepting. As for me, I wiped my forehead, which was covered in large drops of cold sweat. “Let’s think about this,” I said, “and take our time. Hunting otters in underwater forests, as we did on the Island of Crespo, is one thing. But walking around on the sea floor, where we’re almost certain to meet sharks, is quite another! I know that in certain countries, especially in the Andaman Islands, the negroes never hesitate to attack sharks. They use a dagger in one hand and a slip noose in the other. But I also know that few who face those creatures ever return alive. In any case, I’m not a negro. And even if I were, I think a little hesitation would be appropriate here.”

At this moment Conseil and the Canadian entered, quite composed, and even joyous. They knew not what awaited them.

At that moment, Conseil and the Canadian entered. They were calm and even cheerful. They did not know what awaited them.

“Faith, sir,” said Ned Land, “your Captain Nemo—the devil take him!—has just made us a very pleasant offer.”

“Honestly, sir,” said Ned Land, “your Captain Nemo has just made us a very pleasant offer. The devil take him!”

“Ah!” said I, “you know?”

“Ah!” I said, “you know?”

“If agreeable to you, sir,” interrupted Conseil, “the commander of the Nautilus has invited us to visit the magnificent Ceylon fisheries to-morrow, in your company; he did it kindly, and behaved like a real gentleman.”

“If you agree, sir,” Conseil interrupted, “the commander of the Nautilus has invited us to visit the magnificent Ceylon fisheries with you tomorrow. He was kind about it and behaved like a real gentleman.”

“He said nothing more?”

“He didn't say anything else?”

“Nothing more, sir, except that he had already spoken to you of this little walk.”

“Nothing else, sir, except that he had already spoken to you about this little walk.”

“Sir,” said Conseil, “would you give us some details of the pearl fishery?”

“Sir,” said Conseil, “could you tell us a little about pearl fishing?”

“As to the fishing itself,” I asked, “or the incidents, which?”

“Which do you mean, the fishing itself or the incidents?” I asked.

“On the fishing,” replied the Canadian; “before entering upon the ground, it is as well to know something about it.”

“About the fishing,” replied the Canadian. “Before going into the fishing grounds, it is best to know something about them.”

“Very well; sit down, my friends, and I will teach you.”

“All right, sit down, my friends, and I will teach you.”

Ned and Conseil seated themselves on an ottoman, and the first thing the Canadian asked was:

Ned and Conseil sat down on an ottoman. The first thing Ned asked was:

“Sir, what is a pearl?”

“Sir, what is a pearl?”

“My worthy Ned,” I answered, “to the poet, a pearl is a tear of the sea; to the Orientals, it is a drop of dew solidified; to the ladies, it is a jewel of an oblong shape, of a brilliancy of mother-of-pearl substance, which they wear on their fingers, their necks, or their ears; for the chemist it is a mixture of phosphate and carbonate of lime, with a little gelatine; and lastly, for naturalists, it is simply a morbid secretion of the organ that produces the mother-of-pearl amongst certain bivalves.”

“My dear Ned,” I replied, “to a poet, a pearl is a tear of the sea. To the Orientals, it is a solidified drop of dew. To ladies, it is an oblong jewel with the shine of mother-of-pearl. They wear pearls on their fingers, around their necks, or in their ears. To a chemist, a pearl is a mixture of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate, with a little gelatin. Finally, to naturalists, it is simply an abnormal secretion from the organ that produces mother-of-pearl in certain bivalves.”

“Branch of molluscs,” said Conseil.

“Branch of mollusks,” said Conseil.

“Precisely so, my learned Conseil; and, amongst these testacea the earshell, the tridacnae, the turbots, in a word, all those which secrete mother-of-pearl, that is, the blue, bluish, violet, or white substance which lines the interior of their shells, are capable of producing pearls.”

“Exactly, my learned Conseil. Among these shellfish are earshells, tridacnae, and turbots. In short, all those that produce mother-of-pearl can produce pearls. Mother-of-pearl is the blue, bluish, violet, or white substance that lines the inside of their shells.”

“Mussels too?” asked the Canadian.

“Mussels too?” asked the Canadian.

“Yes, mussels of certain waters in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Saxony, Bohemia, and France.”

“Yes, mussels from certain waters in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Saxony, Bohemia, and France.”

“Good! For the future I shall pay attention,” replied the Canadian.

“Good! I’ll pay attention from now on,” replied the Canadian.

“But,” I continued, “the particular mollusc which secretes the pearl is the pearl-oyster, the meleagrina margaritifera, that precious pintadine. The pearl is nothing but a nacreous formation, deposited in a globular form, either adhering to the oyster shell, or buried in the folds of the creature. On the shell it is fast; in the flesh it is loose; but always has for a kernel a small hard substance, may be a barren egg, may be a grain of sand, around which the pearly matter deposits itself year after year successively, and by thin concentric layers.”

“But,” I continued, “the particular mollusk that produces pearls is the pearl oyster, the meleagrina margaritifera, that precious pintadine. A pearl is simply a rounded formation of nacre, or mother-of-pearl. It forms either attached to the oyster’s shell or buried in folds of its flesh. A pearl on the shell is fixed in place, while one in the flesh is loose. But a pearl always has a small, hard substance at its center. This may be an unfertilized egg or a grain of sand. Pearly material builds up around it year after year, in thin, concentric layers.”

“Are many pearls found in the same oyster?” asked Conseil.

“Are many pearls found in one oyster?” asked Conseil.

“Yes, my boy. Some are a perfect casket. One oyster has been mentioned, though I allow myself to doubt it, as having contained no less than a hundred and fifty sharks.”

“Yes, my boy. Some are like treasure chests. One oyster was said to have contained no fewer than 150 sharks. I doubt that, though.”

“A hundred and fifty sharks!” exclaimed Ned Land.

“One hundred and fifty sharks!” exclaimed Ned Land.

“Did I say sharks?” said I hurriedly. “I meant to say a hundred and fifty pearls. Sharks would not be sense.”

“Did I say sharks?” I said quickly. “I meant to say a hundred and fifty pearls. Sharks wouldn't make sense.”

“Certainly not,” said Conseil; “but will you tell us now by what means they extract these pearls?”

“Of course not,” said Conseil. “But will you tell us now how they extract these pearls?”

“They proceed in various ways. When they adhere to the shell, the fishermen often pull them off with pincers; but the most common way is to lay the oysters on mats of the seaweed which covers the banks. Thus they die in the open air; and at the end of ten days they are in a forward state of decomposition. They are then plunged into large reservoirs of sea-water; then they are opened and washed.”

“They use several methods. When they stick to the shell, the fishermen often pull them off with pincers. But the most common method is to lay the oysters on mats of seaweed from the banks. The oysters die in the open air. After ten days, they are badly decomposed. They are then immersed in large tanks of seawater, opened, and washed.”

“The price of these pearls varies according to their size?” asked Conseil.

“Does the price of these pearls depend on their size?” asked Conseil.

“Not only according to their size,” I answered, “but also according to their shape, their water (that is, their colour), and their lustre: that is, that bright and diapered sparkle which makes them so charming to the eye. The most beautiful are called virgin pearls, or paragons. They are formed alone in the tissue of the mollusc, are white, often opaque, and sometimes have the transparency of an opal; they are generally round or oval. The round are made into bracelets, the oval into pendants, and, being more precious, are sold singly. Those adhering to the shell of the oyster are more irregular in shape, and are sold by weight. Lastly, in a lower order are classed those small pearls known under the name of seed-pearls; they are sold by measure, and are especially used in embroidery for church ornaments.”

“Not only by their size,” I answered, “but also by their shape, their water, meaning their color, and their luster. The luster is the bright, patterned sparkle that makes pearls so pleasing to the eye. The most beautiful are called virgin pearls, or paragons. They form alone in the mollusk’s tissue. They are white and often opaque, though sometimes they are as transparent as an opal. They are generally round or oval. Round pearls are made into bracelets, while oval pearls are made into pendants. Oval pearls are more precious and are sold individually. Pearls that cling to the oyster’s shell are more irregular in shape and are sold by weight. Finally, small pearls known as seed pearls are ranked lower. They are sold by measure and are used especially to embroider church ornaments.”

“But,” said Conseil, “is this pearl-fishery dangerous?”

“But,” said Conseil, “is pearl fishing dangerous?”

“No,” I answered, quickly; “particularly if certain precautions are taken.”

“No,” I quickly replied, “especially if certain precautions are taken.”

“What does one risk in such a calling?” said Ned Land, “the swallowing of some mouthfuls of sea-water?”

“What do you risk in that line of work?” said Ned Land. “Swallowing a few mouthfuls of seawater?”

“As you say, Ned. By the bye,” said I, trying to take Captain Nemo’s careless tone, “are you afraid of sharks, brave Ned?”

“As you say, Ned. By the way,” I said, trying to sound as casual as Captain Nemo, “are you afraid of sharks, brave Ned?”

“I!” replied the Canadian; “a harpooner by profession? It is my trade to make light of them.”

“Me!” replied the Canadian. “A professional harpooner? It’s my job to make light of them.”

“But,” said I, “it is not a question of fishing for them with an iron-swivel, hoisting them into the vessel, cutting off their tails with a blow of a chopper, ripping them up, and throwing their heart into the sea!”

“But,” I said, “we are not talking about catching them with an iron swivel and hauling them aboard. We are not talking about chopping off their tails, cutting them open, and throwing their hearts into the sea!”

“Then, it is a question of——”

“Then it's a question of...”

“Precisely.”

“Exactly.”

“In the water?”

“In the water?”

“In the water.”

“In the water.”

“Faith, with a good harpoon! You know, sir, these sharks are ill-fashioned beasts. They turn on their bellies to seize you, and in that time——”

“With a good harpoon, of course! You know, sir, sharks are awkward creatures. They turn onto their backs to grab you, and in that time...”

Ned Land had a way of saying “seize” which made my blood run cold.

The way Ned Land said “seize” made my blood run cold.

“Well, and you, Conseil, what do you think of sharks?”

“Well, what do you think of sharks, Conseil?”

“Me!” said Conseil. “I will be frank, sir.”

“Me!” said Conseil. “I'll be honest, sir.”

“So much the better,” thought I.

“All the better,” I thought.

“If you, sir, mean to face the sharks, I do not see why your faithful servant should not face them with you.”

“If you plan to face the sharks, sir, I don't see why your faithful servant shouldn't face them with you.”